Hebrews 7

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,

²to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, who by interpretation is first King of righteousness, and then also was King of Salem, which is, King of peace,

³without father, without mother, without record of descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but likened to the Son of God, remaineth a priest for ever.

⁴Consider now how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils.

⁵And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the office of the priesthood have a command to take tithes of the people by the Law, that is, of their brethren, though they have come out of the loins of Abraham;

⁶but he whose descent is not reckoned from them took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.

⁷And beyond all contradiction the less is blessed by the greater.

⁸And here indeed men that die receive tithes; but there he of whom it is testified that he liveth.

⁹And so to speak, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham;

¹⁰for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹If indeed perfection had been by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people hath received the Law,) what further need was there that a different priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called alter the order of Aaron?

¹²For if the priesthood is changed, there takes place of necessity a change of the law.

¹³For he of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, of which no one hath given attendance at the altar;

¹⁴for it is well-known that our Lord sprang out of Judah, in regard to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵And it is still more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth a different priest,

¹⁶who hath been made, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.

¹⁷For it is testified of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

¹⁸For on the one hand there takes place an annulling of the commandment which went before, on account of its weakness and unprofitableness,—

¹⁹for the Law perfected nothing,—and on the other, the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw near to God.

²⁰And inasmuch as it was not without an oath that he was made priest,

²¹—for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him who said to him, "The Lord swore, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever,"—

²²by so much hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

²³And they indeed have been many priests, because they have been prevented from continuing by reason of death;

²⁴but he, because he abideth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood;

²⁵wherefore he is able also to save to the utmost those who come to God through him, since he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

²⁶For such a high-priest also became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

²⁷who hath not necessity daily, as the high-priests, to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

²⁸For the Law maketh men high-priests, who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the Law, maketh the Son, who is perfected for ever.

Hebrews 7

¹For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

²To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

³Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

⁴Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

⁵And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

⁶But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

⁷And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

⁸And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

⁹And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

¹⁰For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

¹¹If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

¹²For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

¹³For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

¹⁵And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

¹⁶Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

¹⁷For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

¹⁸For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

¹⁹For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

²⁰And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

²¹(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

²²By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

²³And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

²⁴But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

²⁷Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

²⁸For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.